Device for searching submarine mines, &amp;c.



PATENTED APR. 24, 1906. U. S. SJUSTRAND.

DEVICE FOR SEARCHING SUBMARINE MINES, 8m

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 28, 1906.

lmwentar said buoys, and

strike the mines or the like.

3 mm orrioni,

ULRIK sEvERiN sJosT'RAND, or SUND'BYBERG, SWEDEN.

DEVICED' FOR SEARCHING SUBMARIl\IE MINES, ac.

Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented April 24, 1906.

Application filed September 28,1905. Serial No; 280.467.

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, ULRIK SEVERIN SJos- TRAND, a subject of the King ofSweden and Norway, and a resident of Sundbyberg, Sweden, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Devices for Searching Submarine Mines andthe Like, of which the following is aspecification, reference being hadto the drawings accompanying and forming apart hereof.

This invention relates to an improved deyipe for searching submarinemines and the 1 e. The object of the invention is to rovide a device ofthe said kind which will be simple in construction and reliable infunction.

The invention consists, chiefly, in the combination of buoys, steeringmeans on said buoys adapted to keep the same at a distance from eachother the water, water-kites suspended from the one or more catchcordsor the like between the said kites adapted .to The buoys are by means oftow-lines connected to a boat or vessel and the said tow-lines maybeconnected to a winding device or the like placed in the boat or vesseland suitably provided with an automatically-working stopping devi e ofany suitable construction adapted tore ease the winding-mechanism whenthe stretching in the tow-lines after the cord or cords connectingtogether the kites is suddenly increased, so that the tow-lines can bewound off until the vessel can be stopped.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown an embodiment of my invention.Figure 1 shows a perspective view of my improved device, and Fig. 2shows a top view ofthe same. i i

Referring to the drawings, a winding de-- vice 2 'is placed in the sternof the vessel 1,

and to the sameare connected two tow-lines 3, each attached to one ofthe buoys 4. The latter are provided with keels5 or other steeringdevices, on account whereof the buoys tend to move away frpm each other..In using keels such movement may most suit.- ably be reflected byconnecting the tow-lines, by means of rings 6 or the like, for instance,to three cords or the like, of which one, 7, is attached at or nearthe-lower edge of keel 5, while the two others, 8 and 9, are eachattached at or near one. of the ends of the keel, the length of the saidcords being so chosen that the attaching-point of the tow-line is at thethe water.

during the motion through side of the keel and somewhat in front of itsmiddle, so that the keel while moving through the water will placeitself obliquely in relation to the direction of movement. Since theattaching-points of the tow-lines'are located on the sid es of keelsfacing each other, the buoys will obviously tend to move away from eachother when being drawn through From the keels 5. of the buoys are, bymeans of cords 10 or the like, suspended water-kites 11 of anywell-known or suitable construction, which are capable 0 keepingthemselves at'a constant depth independently of the speed at which theymove through the water. Somewhat above the kites are providededgewise-arranged plates 12, which are pivotally attached to the cords10 and are connected to each other by means of one or more cords 13 orthe like adapted to strike eventualt mines. Since the ends of the cordor cords 13 are attached to the said plates 12 at some distance from theaxis of rotation of the plates 12, the latter will place themselvesobliquely in relation to the direction of movement, and therefore tendto move away from each other, thereby keeping the cord or cords 13stretched. Though the provision of the said plates 12 is quite importantin the present invention,.inasmuch as the kites, which offer littleresistance againstlaterally-working strains, will be fully freed fromsuch strains, said plates are not necessary.

The device described above works as follows: When the buoys and theirkites have been dropped down from the vessel and the tow-lines wound offto the desired length, buoys and kites will place themselvesapproximately in the manner shown in the drawings, whereby thecatching-cord 13 will be stretched in a certain degree and move at aconstant depth, 'at'which it will be kept by the kites. When the catchin-cord 13 strikes a submarine mine or the like, the stress in the towlines will be increased very essentially, and such increasement of thestress may be used to release a stopping device of any suitable at will.Eventually the buoys and the kites may be arranged in groups aftereachother,

in which case the cords connecting together the kites may be arranged tomove at different levels in the several groups.

The kind of Water-kiteswhich I prefer to use in carrying'out the presentinvention is that described in my United States Patent No. 717,129,dated December 30, 1902, because I do not know of any ot er kind ofkites that are capable of moving at constant depths.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as. new, and desire toseeure'by Letters Patent, is

1 In a device for searching submarine mines and the like the combinationof buoys, steering means on said buoys adapted to keep the same at adistance'from each other during the motion through the water, waterkitessuspended from the said buoys, and a.

catch-cord -between\t he said kites, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

minesand the like the combination, of buoys,

the same at a distance from each other during the motion through thewater, waterkites, suspension cords between the said buoys and kites,swingable plates on said suspension-cords, and a catch-cord between thesaid swingable plates, substantially as'and for the purpose set forth.In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses. I

ULRIK SEVERIN SJOSTRAND.

Witnesses:

EVALD DELMAR, KARL RUNESKOG.

steering means on said buoys adapted to keep 1 2. In a device forsearching submarine

